John Terry is handed a four-match ban by the FA. Thomas Vermaelen has recovered from illness ahead of the visit of Chelsea, Martin O’Neill is hopeful Carlos Cuellar will return for Sunderland, Tony Pulis discusses Matthew Etherington’s game time, while Brendan Rodgers could yet recall Daniel Agger and Fabio Borini for the trip to Norwich:
The FA has slapped John Terry with a four-match ban after further investigating the Chelsea skipper’s part in the incident with Anton Ferdinand last October. With the option to appeal, though, Terry could be set to play in Saturday’s trip to Arsenal – unless he reveals he won’t contest the decision prior to tomorrow’s game:
“Mr Terry has the right to appeal the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days from receipt of the written reasons for the decision. The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Terry decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Terry has an effective right of appeal.”
With Gary Cahill and David Luiz both starting three of the last four for Roberto Di Matteo’s side, Terry’s loss is perhaps not as crucial as it was once would have been. Bearing in mind Branislav Ivanovic can also fill in centrally, the Blues have plenty options for cover – with a home clash against Norwich to follow, Terry may decide to play the Gunners game and accept the ban, in case any appeal could result in a lengthier suspension. With (tot, MUN) and a Capital One Cup clash against United to follow the Canaries clash, Di Matteo could well be set to lose his skipper for a vital run of fixtures.
Martin O’Neill is still sweating on the fitness of Adam Johnson ahead of Sunderland’s home clash against Wigan. Speaking to the press yesterday, the Black Cats boss revealed:
“Adam did a bit of training yesterday and came off feeling okay, then just had what I’m hoping is a superficial problem. He had some more x-rays and everything seemed to be fine, or certainly there’s been no new damage. He didn’t train today; we’ll see how he is tomorrow with a late assessment.”
The winger appeared for the last five minutes of his side’s midweek Capital One Cup win over MK Dons as he makes his way to full fitness after a recent thigh injury. With Lee Cattermole suspended for three matches for a straight red in the same match, O’Neill will also be hoping Seb Larsson can shake off a hamstring knock – the Swede has been filling in on the right in Johnson’s absence but will go straight back to central midfield if the former City man is fit. O’Neill also handed Fantasy managers a boost after revealing that Carlos Cuellar has returned to training and could be in line to face the Latics.
Staying with Sunderland, the Black Cats and Reading are still to confirm a date for the rescheduling of their postponed Gameweek 2 fixture due to a waterlogged pitch. Fantasy managers are standing by to plan for the next double Gameweek of the season and the Mail’s report suggests that the club are attempting to get the fixture placed next month – but their plans are being hindered by UEFA. Their rulings forbid top flight matches being played in the same week as scheduled Champions League and Europa League clashes. Right now, this is forcing the two teams to look as far back as December, a ridiculously busy period, to find a new home for the match.
Martin O’Neill had this to say on the predicament…
“There have been discussions between the two clubs and the Premier League but we can’t play games in a European week which means the only time then would be December where there is only 58 games in 31 days. It is absolutely extraordinary and it would be really crazy and ludicrous to move it to December and the worst possible outcome when we are already overloaded. It would not be fair on the players in particular, particularly when they are always talking about injuries due to the amount of games.”
Thomas Vermaelen is fit and available for the visit of Chelsea this weekend. The Belgian missed out in last week’s draw at the Etihad, as replacement Laurent Koscielny grabbed the equaliser to extend Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season – despite his impressive showing against City, though, Koscielny looks the favourite to drop out, with Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker looking a particularly strong partnership at the back right now. Arsene Wenger also revealed Bacary Sagna and Wojciech Szczesny will both miss out as they continue their injury recoveries – the latter is expected back in “two to three weeks” time, meaning Carl Jenkinson and Vito Mannone will continue at right-back and in goal respectively for tomorrow lunchtime’s showdown.
Tony Pulis has denied suggestions that Matthew Etherington is being edged towards the exit door at Stoke.
“Irrespective of what people might be saying, Matty has got a massive future at this football club. Matty has had a dip in form, and there are a lot of reasons why players can lose form. A fit, dynamic and athletic Matthew Etherington is something we haven’t got elsewhere in the squad.”
With fellow wide man Michael Kightly beginning all the Potters’ league games this term, Etherington – who has accrued 120+ FPL on each of the past three seasons – has cut a peripheral figure of late. Having started the Gameweek 1 at Reading, he has failed to feature in Pulis’ first XI, with a combined 44 minutes from the bench in the last two matches all the game time he’s had since. The fixture list may have played a part; Stoke have faced Arsenal, City and Chelsea in the last four but with the influx of new signings such as Kightly, Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi freshening up Pulis’ side, Etherington looks out in the cold right now. With Stoke’s schedule taking a turn for the better from Gameweek 9 onwards, he may come back into the reckoning as a real differential if he can find his form once again.
Brendan Rodgers is hoping to have both Daniel Agger and Fabio Borini available for the trip to Norwich, despite both players being subbed off injured in last Sunday’s game with United. The Liverpool boss spoke yesterday on the pair’s progress:
“Daniel probably has a good chance and Fabio is 50/50. They haven’t trained this week but we’ll see how they go over the next 24 hours. They are responding well.”
Rodgers made 11 changes for the 2-1 Capital One Cup win at West Brom on Wednesday and revealed he has just 12 fit senior players for the Carrow Road encounter, with a reliance on youth in the last match in particular. Agger’s return, in particular, would be a huge boost as the Reds attempt to climb out the drop zone – the hosts’ tally of two goals in the first five Gameweeks hands Liverpool the perfect opportunity to register their first clean sheet of the season tomorrow.
